Bratabandha Puja

Wearing of Sacred thread (Janeu)

Bratabandha Puja

Introduction to Bratabandha Puja

Bratabandha, also called Janeu Sanskar, is a Hindu samskara (sacred rite) performed for a young boy, marking his initiation into formal education and spiritual life. During the ceremony, the boy receives the sacred thread (Janeu), learns Vedic mantras, and is guided in duties of study, discipline, and devotion.

Importance and Significance of Bratabandha Puja

  • To initiate the child into spiritual and educational life – Marks the beginning of learning Vedas, mantras, and dharma.


  • To bestow the sacred thread (Janeu) – Symbolises responsibility, purity, and commitment to righteous living.


  • To seek divine blessings for wisdom and knowledge – Ensures intellectual growth and moral development.


  • To instil discipline and ethical values – Teaches duties, respect, and spiritual conduct from a young age.


  • To invoke protection from negative influences – Prayers ensure safety, health, and well-being of the child.


  • To preserve cultural and religious heritage – Maintains Hindu traditions and family spiritual lineage.


  • To strengthen family and social bonds – Brings relatives and community together to celebrate and bless the child.

    • List of Puja Materials

    Below is a comprehensive list of commonly used materials for Bratabandha Puja. Items may vary slightly based on regional traditions and priestly guidance.

    • A. Things from Nepali Puja Material Shop or Nepali Grocery Store :

      अबिर (Red Pigment Powder), केशरी (Yellow Pigment Powder), सिन्दूर (Vermilion), श्रीखण्ड (White Pigment Powder), पञ्चपल्लव (Dried Mango Leaves), सर्वौषधि (Sarwaushadhi), पञ्चरत्न (Pancharatna), सप्तमृत्तिका (Saptamrittika), पञ्चगव्य (Panchagavya), पोटलिका सामाग्री (Dried Neem, Gorochan Leaf), कालो धागो (Black Thread), रक्षा बन्धन (Coloured Sacred Thread), सरसिउं (Yellow Mustard), कुश (Dried Holy Grass), जौ (Dried Barley), लावा (Roasted Paddy), धूप (Incense), ५ वा ७ सुते कातेको बत्ती (Cotton Wick), अगरबत्ती (Incense Stick), कपुर (Camphor – 1 Packet), तुलसीपत्र (Dried Holy Basil Leaves), जनै (Holy Thread – 5 Pieces), सुपारी (Dried Betel Nut – 5 Pieces), जजन्का (Coloured Thread), ल्वाङ, सुकमेल (Cloves, Cardamom), अत्तर (Attar - Scent), रातो, सेतो कपडा (Red and White Cloth), पहेंलो कपडा, पीताम्बर (Yellow Cloth), ब्राह्मण बरण (Dhoti, Kurta etc for Brahmin), सौभाज्ञ सामाग्री (Decoratives eg: Bangles). *Please look for the Puja Packet in nearby Nepali Puja Shop. The Puja Set should contain the above items. You will need two Puja Packets for Bratabandha.

    • B. Things from the Shopping Centre (eg: Woolworths, Nepali/Indian Grocery) :

      दुध् (Milk), दही (Yoghurt), घिउ (Ghee), चिनी वा सख्खर (Sugar or Jaggery), मह (Honey), तोरिको वा तिलको तेल (Mustard/Sesame Oil), चामल (3 Kg Rice grains), फलफुल (Fruits), मिट्ठाइ (Sweets), सलाई (Match Box), रेखिको लागि चामलको पिठो (Coarse Rice Flour), टपरी वा प्लेट (Paper Plates), दुना वा ब्बल (Paper Bowls), चम्चा (Wooden Spoons), जिपलक (Sandwich Bag), पानीवाला नरिवल (Watery Coconut – 1), सुक्खा नरिवल (Dry Coconut – 3), आल्मोनियम ट्रे (Medium Aluminium Tray).

    • C. Things from the Warehouse (eg: Bunnings) :

      बालुवा वा माटो ५ किलो (5 Kg Sand or Earth), हवन समिधा ३३ ओटा (33 Sticks for Havan), आल्मोनियम ट्रे २ ओटा (2 Aluminium Trays). *Havan is performed in the aluminium tray. Alternatively, you could source 4 bricks or equivalent concrete blocks.

    • D. Things from the Garden :

      फुल (Flowers), दुबो (Holy Grass), आंपको पत्ता – ५ ओटा (Min. 5 Mango Leaves), पिपलको पत्ता – ५ ओटा (Min 5 Peepal Leaves), पानको पत्ता – ५ ओटा (Min 5 Betel Leaves), तुलसी पत्ता (Tulasi Leaves). *If you are not able to source Peepal, Mango, Tulasi, or Betel Leaves – do not worry, please source flowers.

    • E. Things at Home (Could also be bought from the Nepali Grocery Store) :

      दियो – १ (Diyo – 1 Pc), आरती गर्ने दियो – १ (Diyo for Aarati – 1 Pc), कलश – ५ (Kalash – 5 Pcs), पन्चपात्र – १ (Panchapatra – 1 Pc), आचमनी – १ (Aachamani – 1 Pc), पुजा थाली – १ (Puja Thali – 1 Pc), अगरबत्ती राख्ने भांडो – १ (Agarbatti Stand – 1 Pc), कर्मपात्र – १ (Copper Bowl – 1 Pc), अर्घपात्र – १ (Surya Arghapatra – 1 Pc), संख – १ (Conch – 1 Pc), घण्टी – १ (Ghanti – 1 Pc), गणेश भगवानको मूर्ती – १ (Ganesh Statue – 1), खुजुरा पैसा ($1, $5 etc coins and notes), नैबेध (Naibedh), आसन वा चकटी – ३ (Mats for Sitting – 3). *If the above puja utensils are not available in your house, you could use the plates, bowls etc purchased from the shopping centre.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) – यज्ञमन्डप बनाउने (Make Yagya Mandap) :

      गमला (Flowerpot for Yagya – 5), माटो वा बालुवा (Earth or Sand – 5kg), इट्टा – १० वटा (10 Bricks), तोरण (Religious Bunting), मण्डप सृङार सामाग्री (Mandap Decoratives), काठको लिङ – ५ (Timber Posts – 5). *Toran or jute rope, flowerpot, bricks, sand, timber posts can be bought from Bunnings.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) – आभ्युदइक (नान्हिमुखी) श्राद्ध (Abhyudaek Shraddha) :

      सिदा बनाउने सामाग्री (Rice Grains, vegetables, spices like salt, turmeric, coriander, cumin, oil, ghee, honey, fruits, ginger, lentil etc.), Sida Materials can be found in Nepali Grocery Store.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) - मातृका पूजा (Matrika Puja) :

      टायल – १ (Tile – 1), गहुंको पिठो – ५०० ग्राम (Wheat Flour – 0.5kg). *Tile can be found in Bunnings.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) - ग्रह दान सामाग्रीहरु (Graha Daan Items) :

      कालो तिल (Black Sesame Seed), तिलको तेल (Sesame Oil), कालो कपडा (A Piece of Black Cloth), फलाम (A Piece of Iron), मासको दाल (Black Lentil), ऐना (Mirror), पैसा (Money). *Iron nails can be found in Bunnings.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) - जुटिकाधिवासन वा दुम्सिको कांडा लगाउने (Wearing Porcupine Thorn) :

      दुम्सीको कांडा – ३ (Porcupine Thorn – 3 Pcs), कांसको थाल – १ (Brass Plate – 1). *Porcupine thorn is found in selected Nepali Grocery Store; Alternatively, you could purchase from Amazon.

    • Day 1 (पूर्वाङ) - गणेश बटार्नको लागि (To make Kasar Laddu) :

      *लगनगांठोको कपडा – २ मि (White Cloth – 2m), कसारको पिठो (Rice Flour to make Kasar), नाङ्लो (Nanglo), जनै (Holy Thread), सुपारी (Dried Betel Nut), सिक्का पैसा (Coin), कन्याहरुलाई लगाइदिन अक्षता (Red Rice Tika), वस्त्र एवम दक्षिणा (Cloth and Money).

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - बुकुवा कर्म (To make Bukuwa or Haldi) :

      बेसारको धुलो (Turmeric Powder), सरसिउंको धुलो (Yellow Mustard Powder), मेथीको धुलो (Fenugreek Powder), तोरिको धुलो (Black Mustard Powder), दही (Yoghurt).

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) – चुडाकर्म (Hair Shaving Ritual) :

      सुनको छुरा / पहेलो छुरा – १ (Golden Shave – 1), कपाल काट्ने ट्रीमर – १ (Hair Trimmer – 1), कांसको थाल – १ (Brass Plate – 1), कांसको कचौरा – १ (Brass Bowl – 1), गोबर (Cow Dung). *Brass plate and bowl can be found in Nepali Grocery Store; Cow Dung could be found in selected Nepali Grocery or online.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - उपनयन (Janeu Wearing Ritual) :

      कन्दनी – १ (Yellow Underwear), लगौटी – १ (Yellow Cloth Belt), पंहेले कपडा/मेखला – १ (Yellow Vest), टेक्ने लट्ठी – २ (Walking Sticks – 2), पहेलो भिक्षा झोला – १ (Yellow Bag for Daan), पहेलो पुस्तक झोला – १ (Yellow Bag for Book), म्रिगचर्म – १ (Deer Skin – 1), भिक्षा डाली – १ (Basket for Bhiksha – 1). *Most of the above items could be sourced from Nepal; Deer Skin might be prohibited to transport overseas.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - गायत्री मन्त्रदान (Inception of reciting Gayatri Mantra) :

      पञ्चपात्र – २ (Panchapatra – 2), आचमनी – २ (Aachamani – 2), १०८ दाना भएका रुद्राक्ष वा तुलसी माला – २ (Rudraksha or Tulsi Garland – 2), गोमुखी – २ (Garland Bag – 2), नयाँ आसन – २ (Mats for Sitting – 2), ओढ्ने गम्छा वा च्यादर – १ (Shawl – 1), गुरुको लागि वस्त्र, जुत्ता, छाता आदी (Cloth, Shoes, Umbrella etc. for Guru). *Most of the above items could be sourced from Nepal; Some could be found in Nepali Grocery Store.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - भिक्षादान (Offering Bhiksha Daan to Batuk) :

      बांसको डाली – १ (Bamboo Basket – 1), माना – १ (Mana Pot – 1), पाथी – १ (Pathi Pot – 1), सुकेको नरिवल – १ (Dry Coconut – 1), जनै (Holy Thread), सुपारी (Dry Betel Nut), फलफुल (Fruits), पैसा (Currency). *Bamboo basket, mana and pathi could be found in Nepali Grocery Store.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - धनुर्बाण हान्न (Ritual to learn to use Bow and Arrow) :

      धनुष – १ (Bow – 1), बाण – १२ (Arrow – 12), बाण राख्ने भांडो – १ (Arrow Basket – 1). *Bow, arrow and bow basket can be manually crafted.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) – जलाभिषेक (Showering with Strainer) :

      साना कलशहरु – ८ (Small Copper Kalash – 8), सहस्राधारा – १ (Water Strainer – 1), काठको पिर्का – १ (Timber Tool – 1). *Kalash can be found in Nepali Grocery Store; strainer can be found in shopping centres e.g.: Kmart.

    • Day 2 (ब्रतबन्ध) - समावर्तन (Religious Graduation Ceremony) :

      धोती – १ (White Dhoti), दुबोको माला – १ (Grass Garland), फुलको माला – १ (Flower Garland), टोपी – १ (Nepali Hat), कानको कुण्डल – २ (Earrings – 2), गाजल – १ (Kajal – 1), ऐना – १ (Mirror – 1), छाता – १ (Umbrella – 1), जुत्ता (Pair of Shoes), मोजा (Pair of Socks), नयाँ वस्त्र (New Set of Clothes), गरगहना (Ornaments and Jewelleries). *The above list of clothes and ornaments are worn by the Batuk at the end of Bratabandha.

    Download Puja Materials

    Click the button below to download the complete list of Bratabandha Puja materials. Download